The process by which heat is transmitted from the Sun to the Earth is called

Heat is transmitted from the Sun to the Earth through the process of radiation. Unlike conduction and convection, which require a material medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to transfer thermal energy, radiation does not require any medium and can occur through the vacuum of space [c2, c3, c4]. Radiation involves the transfer of energy via electromagnetic waves, primarily in the infrared spectrum [t1, t8]. While conduction involves heat transfer between bodies in direct contact [c1] and convection involves the actual movement of particles in fluids [c4, t7], radiation allows solar energy to travel across the vast empty space between the Sun and Earth's atmosphere [t3, t6]. Once this energy reaches Earth, it heats the surface, which then warms the atmosphere through secondary processes like conduction and convection [c1, c3].

Sources

1. [1] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 21: Horizontal Distribution of Temperature > Radiation > p. 282
2. [2] Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 7: Heat Transfer in Nature > In a Nutshell > p. 102
3. [3] Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 7: Heat Transfer in Nature > Why is it more comfortable to wear white or light-coloured clothes during summers and dark-coloured clothes during winters? > p. 97
4. [4] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: Solar Radiation, Heat Balance and Temperature > HEATING AND COOLING OF ATMOSPHERE > p. 68